Pflueger Supreme Died Today

[FishTank]

I was out fishing today and my Pflueger Supreme that I bought back in February started spooling line below the bottom of the spool.  I tried taking out the loan washer on the spool shaft and put in a thinner one.  It did get better but it still spooled line onto the bottom of the spool.  I then took out the thinner washer and same result.  You could actually see the roller bearing occasionally going below the spool.  I don't know what caused this all of a sudden.  I have only fished this reel 7 or 8 times. I did try respooling it with some new and different line (Trilene XL 6lb)  just to see if the line on there was causing it. I also trolled it behind my boat and reeled it in.  I got the same result.  Also, the finish on this reel was starting to come off but only a little. 

 

I took it back to Gander Mountain and they were nice enough to exchange it.  I would have picked up another one but the old timer working there said they have had an issue with this reel doing this.  So I picked up a Shimano Symetre to replace it.  

 

I know this is a popular reel>  Has anybody else had this issue?

[k3bass]

I have quite a few pfluegers (2 supremes) and never had that problem. Sounds like maybe that little screw in the end of the spool shaft that holds it to the oscillation slider came loose.

[FishTank]

I have quite a few pfluegers (2 supremes) and never had that problem. Sounds like maybe that little screw in the end of the spool shaft that holds it to the oscillation slider came loose.

 

 

I kind of thought that too but the shaft seemed secure and the line below the spool was only happening occasionally.  I wish I had taken a pic but I got frustrated and took it back before I could think of taking one.  It still cranked smooth and felt awesome.  I am still working it out in my head.  I have never had a spinning reel do this, this badly.  I have had it happen with FC line on an older Shimano Sahara but I it was an easy fix by removing one of the shaft washers.   On this reel, I tried three different lines with the same result. 

[Lucky Craft Man]

I have over 10 Supremes and have had them for years and never had that happen (and I hope it doesn't ever happen). That sucks, but at least you were able to take it back.

[Bluebasser86]

I had 2 supremes, both took a dump on me. One of them the side plate screws backed out a little without me knowing and when I set the hook on a stout smallmouth it just destroyed one of the internal gears. The other one, when the drag would turn while fighting a fish the drag knob would turn with it and tighten the drag a little until it got to the point that it would no longer give line. Pure Fishing has tremendous customer service though as I sent both of them in and within a week in each case I had a brand new Supreme XT at my front door. Not only replaced my reel, but upgraded me for free!

[smalljaw67]

So far mine has been great, and I hate to say this, but the only reel I ever had that actually failed was a Symetre, and it was two in a row. Bail spring, gear set and bearings and it happened in only a few outs. Did I get lemons?? I bet I did but the response from Shimano was for me to buy a better reel, and that has lead me to never buy a Shimano product ever again even thought I know they make good reels. I'm keeping my fingers crossed my Supreme continues to work well.

[FishTank]

Well, I took the new Symetre out for an 8 hour test today and it behaved flawlessly despite the wind.  I set it up with a 7'3"Fenwick Elite Tech M Fast Walleye Rod (the same rod I had for the Supreme).  As far as a comparison to the Supreme, the Symetre was just as smooth but just barely.  It casts better and has an overall better balance and feel but the drag, despite being smooth, was under powered compared to the Supreme.  So in the end, if the Supreme had not malfunctioned, I think it would be the better bang for the buck when it is on sale but Symetre, IMHO, is the better reel.  It really is an apple to oranges comparison on these reels.  Only time will tell.

 

Here is the reel's first catch.  I caught 12-15 this size and smaller today on just green pumpkin senkos.

[EvanT123]

Nice^^^

Just wondering did you experience something like this?

I picked up 3 supreme rover the winter for $40 a piece it was a no brainer. They have been good to be but the line management, wind knots, and the finish have been an issue for me. The finish not so much I don't really care. I get wind knots like crazy with these reels and only fishing an hour a day I'd rather fish and not putz with my gear.

[FishTank]

Nice^^^

Just wondering did you experience something like this?

I picked up 3 supreme rover the winter for $40 a piece it was a no brainer. They have been good to be but the line management, wind knots, and the finish have been an issue for me. The finish not so much I don't really care. I get wind knots like crazy with these reels and only fishing an hour a day I'd rather fish and not putz with my gear.

 

Sort of.  My issue was not that bad.  I would just get line wrapped around the bottom of bail just below the lip of the spool.  I would then get line twists like crazy.  I would have to watch out for line and fix it as I went.  It was not a good way to fish. 

 

My issue with the finish was just random little spots were coming off.  It was not like I was abusing it.  It was mainly in areas that I did not touch. 

 

And your right, at $40 you would think it was a no brainer. 

[SirSnookalot]

I have had line get caught on the spindle quite a few times, but not with my supremes.  It's happened on a couple of my Abu Sorons until I changed my casting style.  It seemed to happened when I had wind in my face and the braid blew back and got caught while I started to crank.  What I do now is cup the line as it's traveling out, then lift rod before cranking, eliminates loops too.

The only problem I had on my 3 supremes is on just 1 of them, my 25.  The line stacks low on the spool, just spool it up with less line, still have more than enough as I use braid.  My most used is my 30, I keep in my car and probably use it 300 times a year, 5+ years and still going strong.

 

Don't seem to understand the symetre's drag being underpowered.  Using the same line diameter on both a supreme and symetre a drag set at 2# is 2# regardless off the reel being used.  1 reel may have a smoother drag, that doesn't make it less or more powerful.  I'm not defending the symetre, I'm a Pflueger man.

[FishTank]

I have had line get caught on the spindle quite a few times, but not with my supremes.  It's happened on a couple of my Abu Sorons until I changed my casting style.  It seemed to happened when I had wind in my face and the braid blew back and got caught while I started to crank.  What I do now is cup the line as it's traveling out, then lift rod before cranking, eliminates loops too.

The only problem I had on my 3 supremes is on just 1 of them, my 25.  The line stacks low on the spool, just spool it up with less line, still have more than enough as I use braid.  My most used is my 30, I keep in my car and probably use it 300 times a year, 5+ years and still going strong.

 

Don't seem to understand the symetre's drag being underpowered.  Using the same line diameter on both a supreme and symetre a drag set at 2# is 2# regardless off the reel being used.  1 reel may have a smoother drag, that doesn't make it less or more powerful.  I'm not defending the symetre, I'm a Pflueger man.

 

I figure out what the drag issue was.  When it was spooled with line, a piece of stray line got stuck under the drag knob.  I was not able to get to tighten properly.  Took the line out and I was good to go.